Rick Perry to lead RGA

Texas Gov. Rick Perry will be tapped as the new chairman of the Republican Governors Association when the organization meets next week in San Diego, GOP sources tell POLITICO.

Perry recently released a book taking aim at the federal government and both the subject of the tome, “Fed Up!,” and his promotion of it have fueled speculation that he is eyeing a presidential bid.

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But his appointment to helm the RGA heading into 2011 — when three states will hold governors’ races — amounts to the first concrete evidence that the Texan is serious when he says he has no interest in pursuing the White House. It would be nearly impossible to raise money for the committee and help direct the gubernatorial contests in Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky while running for president.

Perry’s move does, though, jibe with his oft-stated intent to serve as a leader of state-level opposition against President Barack Obama and the federal government.

Perry, who easily won reelection last week, is entering his tenth year as governor and will soon be the longest-serving chief executive in his state's history. He already has done one stint at the RGA, leading the committee in 2008, and was deeply involved with the committee before then, when Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue was at the helm.

“The RGA in 2006, under the leadership of Sonny Purdue and Rick Perry, put the concept of a four-year plan in place that allowed the governors, candidates, donors and staff to have a bigger vision then just one-year cycles,” said Dave Carney, Perry’s top political adviser. “This allowed [RGA executive director] Nick Ayers and [political director] Paul [Bennecke] the freedom to lead the committee toward 2010 over four years. It proved very successful.”

The current chairman and vice chairman of the RGA, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, are both mulling White House bids.

It’s uncertain who will run the committee day-to-day. Ayers is widely thought to be heading to a presidential campaign.

Carney, who is likely to play an important role, said a game plan would be put into place after Thanksgiving.